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The Commoner.
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Nebraska Democrats Indorse Mr. Bryan's
Conduct at Baltimore
Tho democratic state convention for Ne
braska, was held at Grand Island, July 30th.
It was one of the best attended conventions over
h'eld In Nebraska. There was a clear cut con
test over Mr. Bryan's course at Baltimore and
that course was explicitly Indorsed by a vote of
63 0 to 246. William H. Thompson of
Grand Island was elected chairman of the
titale committco to succeed John G. Byrnes
and Leo Matthews was re-elected secretary.
The resolutions indorsing Mr. Bryan's course
were debated by picked speakers for one
and one-half hour. Arthur Mullen of Oma
ha, Bernard McNony of Red Cloud, State Sena
tor Placek of Wahoo and H. F. Fleharty of
Omaha spoke in opposition to the Bryan indorse
ment. Judge Matt Miller of David City, H. H.
Hanks of Nebraska City and Richard-L. - Met
calfe of Lincoln, defended the resolutions. Tho
resolutions as adopted were as follows:
Wo, the democrats of Nebraska, in state con
vention assembled, send greetings to the demo
crats of the nation and congratulate them upon
tho good results at the Baltimore convention in
the nomination of Woodrow Wilson for presi7
dent and Thomas R. Marshall for vice-president;
and in tho adoption of a thoroughly good pro
gressive platform.
Wo hereby express our unqualified approval
of the nominees and of tho platform.
, We point with pride to the leadership Ne
braska democracy has taken during the past
eighteen years under the guidance of William
J. Bryan.
We congratulate the democrats of the nation
that they had in Nebraska's distinguished citi
zen a man who dared defy the elements that had
wrecked the republican party and 'that sought
at Baltimore the destruction of the democratic
party; that witb superb .courage lie challenged
the right Qf these elements , to . .dominate the
democratic cpnypntJo and stood for what he
believed to be the Interest of "the folks at
home;"-that through his leadership fthe con
vention at Baltimore was,, transformed from what
at one time 'seemed to be a reactionary gather
ing into a real democratic convention wjth real
democratic' candidates standing upon a genuine
democratic platform. W.e cordially approve Mr.
Bryan's course at Baltimore ' and we heartily
commend him for the course he adopted and we
congratulate liiin upon the magnificent victory.
We approve the work of the democratic house
of representatives and we heartily commend tbj
Nebraska democratic delegation in either branch
of congress for their faithful efforts to represent
in. the votes they have cast the democratic senti
ment of Nebraska.
Tho following state platform was adopted:
We invite attention to the fact that there are
important problems of state government and' we
pledge the best effbrts of democratic members of
the legislature and other democratic officials to
the solution of these problems by the way of
constructive legislation.
We favor the adoption of the proposed consti
tutional amendment providing for the initiative
and referendum.
We favor the adoption of the proposed con
stitutional amendment giving to cities of more
than 5,000 -population the privilege of framing
.their own charters, consistent with the constitu
tion and laws of the state.
We favor the adoption of the proposed con
stitutional amendment ' providing for a board
of control for the government1 of state institu
tions' anU we prohiise' that the 'democratic gover
nor will appoint as members of the state board
men upon whose integrity and capability the
people mayTely for economical and' businesslike
conduct of all the affairs of the state institutions.
Wo -favor zealous ' guardianship, of the' right
of the state to regulate common carriers with
relation to intrastate commerce.
We favor the passage of a law having for its
purpose the abolition of vote trading, commonly
called "log rolling," in the legislature.
We favor a law requiring the governor to
make public the names of all persons who peti
tion him, either verbally or in writing, to ap
prove or veto any measure.
We commend the last democratic legislature
for the passage of the Ollis stock yards bill,- and
wo promise such further regulations for stock
'araii-theSMielfdWkulfel - . a
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anti-lobby law, to the end that such a law shall
no longer be a dead letter upon the statute
book.
We favor the enactment of a law creating a
state highway commission; in order to help
system ize road construction and thereby further
tho good roads movement.
We favor the eight hour day for all toilers,
especially in the case of state and municipal
work.
Tho Btate is rich in natural resources not yet
developed, a condition due to tho lack of public
knowledge of such wealth. -fa
We therefore favor a liberal appropriation by
the legislature for the purpose of giving pub
licity to the state's resources.
We favor the enactment of a law directing
and empowering the state railway commission
to examine and audit the books and accounts of
all public service corporations doing business
within the state, and to limit the earning power
of such corporations to a reasonable propor
tion of the capital invested.
Wo recognize in the merger of the telephone
companies of the state an effort to establish a
complete telephone monopoly.
We promise that our member of the railway
commission will do everything in his power to
see that the telephone business is nroperly regu
lated and that rates charged for telephone ser
vice are reasonable.
We -further promise such additional legisla
tion as may be necessary to protect the interests
of tho users of telephones in Nebraska.
We deplore the needless delay in the disposi
tion of controversies throughout the courts of
the state, and especially that of the supreme
court, sand pledge our candidates for tho legisla
ture, if elected, to support such measures and
endeavor to crystallize into law' an act of the
legislature which will result in the speedier dis
position of cases in the highencourtspf tthe'state
and afc-the same time safeguard the rights of
litigants. . ,
Nebraska's awkward and-inequitable taxation
system should be replaced by a twentieth cen
tury method.
We favor, therefore, taxation reforms by
separation of the sources of' the state and local
revenues, thus giving to counties and towns the
privilege of enjoying the taxes from purely local
valuations. Land held for speculative purposes
and without improvement ought to carry a
larger share of taxation than it now does. To
this end we promise to submit to the vote of
the people a proposed constitutional amendment
enlarging the powers of the legislature with
respect to the enactment of the taxation system,
and then provide for the, selection of a commis
sion whose business it will be to investigate and
report for the consideration, of the legislature its
idea of the taxation system suited for Ne
braska's peculiar needs.
We favor insurance reform for "old line" as
well as fraternal companies.
We favor automatic benefit in case of lapse
of policy after three annual premiums have been
paid. Securities in which insurance reserves
are invested should be deposited with the state
for the protection of the policyholders. And the
initiative and referendum should be given to
rankrandfifaniZaUOnB fr the protection of the
Recognizing the growing demand for scienti
fically trained teachers to the end that the best
results may be realized from the vast sums of
money annually expended for the maintenance
of our public schools, we favor liberal appropria
tions for our four state normal schools and for
normal training in the high schools.
l P01?11 Dride the fact that the demo
cratic legislature appropriated' more 'money for
the permanent equipment of normal schools
than had been before expended for like' nur
poses during the entire history of the-state
We pledge ourselves now to the support of these
institutions commensurate with their growth
and demands. ferowtn
We point with pride to our state university
and agricultural college and favor liberal ap
propriations tor those institutions.
We denounce the usurpation of power on the
part of the federal judiciary, as shown by the
decision Of Judffe T)ftnlAl Tli W.1-1.J. - ,JTe
J)UtriGt-tofoColumbia,wherein lie .sentences Ho
imurIsonbint'uchvfonJei6n6f thewfefe dnvi
VOLUME 12, NUMBER u
erg of the nation as Samuel Gompers and John
Mitchell for daring to exercise the prerogativea
of free aroeech, and wo call upon Nebraska renre
sentatives in congress to investigate the record
of this procedure with a view to tho judge's
impeachment.
We favor a just workingman's compensatory
law and pledge the passage of such a measure bv
a democratic legislature.
We favor tho enactment of a law prohibiting
any person or firm engaged in the sale or manufacture-
of intoxicating liquors from contributing
money or valuable thing to any -person or or
ganization or to -any contest where the ques
tion of liquor is involved. The penalty for a
violation of this law shall bo forfeiture of
license and fine.
We pledge the beBt efforts of democratic
members of tho legislature and all other demo
cratic officials to the following described poli
cies with respect to stato government:
Reservation for the people of control over the
water power provided by Nebraska rivers and
leasing of jights with supervision over the rates
that are to be paid by consumers of this pbwer
A, "blue sky" law patterned after the Kansas
law and requiring investment schemes to
undergo examination by the state board.
Prison reform, witb the abolition of the prison
contract, the establishment of a binding twine
factory for the more desperate men and the pur
chase of a large farm for the training in agri
culture, horticulture and manual training of
those prisoners who are willing to be helped to
an improved view of life.
Tho dependent wives and children of the in
mates of the state's prison should not be de
prived entirely of a father's or husband's earn
ing power; but a certain portion of the regular
hire, as well as overtime earnings of the prisoner
having a mother, wife or child dependent on his
labor should be devoted to the support of those
innocent people.
A CORRECTION
The . editorial entitled, "Theodore Roosevelt
vs. Democracy," on the firs,t page of The Com
moner of July. 26th was; written; as an answer to
Mr, Ropsevelt,.. (Mrt: Bryant attention. has,,been
called .tp .the vfact that .the. Outlook .editorial
Which, j.Tfte ,Commoner edMoftial, answered ,w,as
not signed . by . M.( Rqqsevelt' , It Wight ' be
reasonably assumed ,that the -Outlook would not,
at such a time as this,, speak on political issues
without Mr. Roosevelt's approval, but in the
interest of absolute accuracy the above cor
rection is made., The CQmmdnpr's readers will
he notified if Mr. Roosevelt's future utterances
are at variance with the' views set forth in the
Outlook editorial.
INDORSEMENT APPRECIATED
Mr. Bryan heartily appreciates the cordial
indorsement given by the recent democratic
state convention of Nebraska of his course at
Baltimore. A crisis arose and it was necessary
that prompt measures be taken' to save the party
from a serious mistake. Mr. Bryan acted upon
ins judgment and he is gratified to be assured
Mat lie so accurately interpreted the will of his
constituents. He has been their co-laboier
tor twenty years and nothing could give him
more pleasure than their commendation.
PROGRESSIVE NEBRASKA
i, t.111"'18 thG command in Ne
? 2X ast .differences over local matters are
forgotten and the party is on the battle line for
Wi son, Marshall, Shallenberger, Morehead
SS?fo T? 2? the ticket, Tno new state com'
S?i ' th that veteran democrat, Hon. W. H.
l iiompson.at its- head, is a militant body and
y . in harmony with tho .platform and the
candidates. Neltfasfca- is' progressive Now for
a big majority. -
the President has taken the coun
wLA? i ,t c'onfidenc'e and explained why it
would be- disastrous to' elect either vGovernor
iniS J president Roosevelt, we await the
mSi! gentlemen warned against. They
fhf . If be US0 t0 put two danger-signals on
tne Taft candidacy.
?JrVi?00?GVelt fears tbat tn trusts will sup
?rnf the. democratic ticket. N6 danger: the
S-v.fi i l aever support a democratic ticket
7m7 aVQ a chance to support him or a
candidate whom he supports.
, it'
wall street can not count Nebraska am o
'her supporters! JUI o." !" WsL" '
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